Hardware 2.0 Holiday 2015 Ultimate Gift Guide

Introduction

This is a gift guide with a difference. Rather than pick gifts for you and yours, I'm looking at the best of the best when it comes to tech that I've had the pleasure of owning, using, and drooling over this year, from the big stuff like notebooks, tablets, and smartphones, to smaller stuff like storage devices and smart bulbs.

There are also a few toys thrown in, along with a few things you didn't even know you wanted or needed, because I'm a big kid at heart!

Along with each entry I'll give you a link, some idea of pricing, and a little bit about why I like it.

Have I missed out your favorite tech gadget? If I have drop me a note in the comments below to let me know!

Published: December 9, 2015 -- 16:21 GMT (08:21 PST)

Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Without a doubt this is the best Windows 10 tablet available, and is one of the best ways to get the most out of Microsoft's newest operating system.

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display

Without a doubt the best notebook I've ever used. Portable thanks to its light weight and long battery life, it is still powerful enough to take on desktop challenges. This is a real workhorse, and I've thrown heavy photo and video editing at it and it has handled it all without breaking a sweat.

And that Retina display. Wow! Once you've used that, there's no going back to a non-Retina display ever again!

Apple iPad Air 2

The king of tablets (well, unless you want a bigger version, in which case you need the iPad Pro). Not only is the hardware top-notch, but the app and third-party accessory ecosystem that has built up around the iOS platform is second to none.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus

This year my favorite smartphone just got faster. Not only is the 5.5-inch display a pleasure to use, but the long battery life means I can do more and spend less time worrying about how fast my battery is draining.

The ability to shoot 4K video is also very nice.

In many ways the iPhone 6s Plus has replaced my tablets as my go-to device.

Amazon Fire 7-inch

For your $50 you get a lot. A 7-inch 1024 x 600 IPS display, a fast quad-core processor, a battery good for some seven hours, and a front- and rear-facing camera. None of these specs are going to blow your hair back, but then go back a few years and you'd have paid big bucks for a tablet with these features.

DJI Phantom 3 Professional

It's a drone that carries aloft a camera. What more do you want to know? I can attest from personal experience that this is not only easy to fly, but it is also robust enough to handle those inevitable crashes that you're going to have.

If you're a photographer of videographer, this tool allows you to take some unique shots.

August Smart Lock

Forget keys! Using your smartphone is the modern way to unlock your door. This simple kit is easy to install and offers the owner high levels of security to ensure that only you and the people you trust can gain access to your fortress.

Philips Hue

Lights that you can control from a smartphone might seem gimmicky, but these are a great way to not only create a mood, but to also help simulate daylight if you're stuck indoors during the dreary winter months.

OWC Envoy Pro EX

Apple charge an arm and a leg for storage, and even if you decided to give your wallet a good workout and spring for the 1TB option it still doesn't feel like enough, especially if you're into photography or video.

Enter the OWC Envoy Pro EX.

Small, thin, light, beautifully designed, and packed with super-fast storage, this external flash drive is ideal for any professional looking to augment the internal storage. And despite being an external drive, the OWC Envoy Pro EX is fast enough to keep up with the most demanding of tasks.

Roku 4

GoPro Hero 4 Black

If you want a camera that you can take with you into the outdoors without fear that you're going to break it, and bring back stunning video, then this is the camera for you. Ultra-portable, fit it anywhere, and immensely robust!

Sony a7S II

I'm a Canon shooter myself (for my sins), but Sony have made huge strides into the mirrorless DSLR arena as of late, and this camera is capable of capturing some truly stunning photographs, especially under low-light conditions.

If I were getting into high-end digital photography today, this could very well be the direction I would go in.

iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit

Repairing things seems to be a dying art, but I like to keep my gear going for as long as possible, and having the right tools makes the job infinitely easier. This is why I use high-quality tool from the repair experts at iFixit.

A toolkit like this isn't for everyone, but these tools, combined with a little know-how, can quickly pay for themselves.

Wacom Intuos Pro (medium)

If you want pixel-perfect precision in your workflow, forget about the mouse or trackpad and invest in an input tablet. Perfect for all digital artists, whether they are using a notebook or a desktop system!

Space Pen

I've carried a Space Pen around with me for years, and they've never let me down. I've never had one leak all over my stuff, they last for ages, and the pen itself is durable and comfortable. It's telling that many of the expensive pen brands have moved to using Space Pen refills over the years.

Aura Smart Sleep System

The Withings Aura Smart Sleep System helps to improve your sleep and wake-up experience by using a unique combination of sleep-cycle analysis and environmental sensing, along with an easy-to-use mobile app.

Apple iMac with Retina 5K display

A quad-core iMac crammed into an a 5K display which features 14.7 million pixels -- four times as many as the standard 27-inch iMac. I warn you that looking at this will make your existing display feel old and tired!

FLIR ONE

FLIR ONE works by detecting heat energy, giving you the ability to see minute temperature variances. Now you can easily detect energy leaks at home, see what's going on outside your house at night, and much more.

Tech gear, from the big stuff like notebooks, tablets, and smartphones, to smaller stuff like storage devices and smart bulbs.

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Introduction

This is a gift guide with a difference. Rather than pick gifts for you and yours, I'm looking at the best of the best when it comes to tech that I've had the pleasure of owning, using, and drooling over this year, from the big stuff like notebooks, tablets, and smartphones, to smaller stuff like storage devices and smart bulbs.

There are also a few toys thrown in, along with a few things you didn't even know you wanted or needed, because I'm a big kid at heart!

Along with each entry I'll give you a link, some idea of pricing, and a little bit about why I like it.

Have I missed out your favorite tech gadget? If I have drop me a note in the comments below to let me know!